The Town FilesKill Devil Hills, North Carolina
Town in Dare County · population 7,656 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $442,200
- Household income
- $89,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 48.5
Kill Devil Hills is a town of 7,656 people in Dare County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $442,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 97% of North Carolina towns.
How Kill Devil Hills ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kill Devil Hills is worth $442,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $89,773, which is more affordable than 18% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,626 a month. 73.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kill Devil Hills | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $442,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,626 | $969 |
| Median household income | $89,773 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 35.7% | — |
Who lives in Kill Devil Hills
| People | Kill Devil Hills | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Kill Devil Hills
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 46.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kill Devil Hills since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 17, 1952 about 6.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 22, 2009.
Severe weather in Dare County since 1996
Dare County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Dare County
Dare County had 20,359 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,480 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Kill Devil Hills itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Kill Devil Hills
4 public schools with 1,888 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Flight High School | 9-12 | 913 | 15.7 |
| First Flight Middle School | 6-8 | 619 | 13.5 |
| First Flight Elementary School | PK-5 | 328 | 10.6 |
| Dare Learning Academy | 9-12 | 28 | 14.0 |
Towns near Kill Devil Hills
- Kitty Hawk, NC4.5 mi · 3,689 people · home $535,000
- Nags Head, NC5.4 mi · 3,168 people · home $490,800
- Southern Shores, NC7.7 mi · 3,090 people · home $712,300
- Grandy, NC19.0 mi · 2,776 people · home $306,000
Kill Devil Hills questions
Is Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kill Devil Hills scores better for retirees than 62% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 45%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in Kill Devil Hills?
The median owner-occupied home in Kill Devil Hills is valued at $442,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,773, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,626 a month.
What is the weather like in Kill Devil Hills?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Kill Devil Hills get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kill Devil Hills since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 17, 1952. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)